Sell Collection or GoFundMe?

So, hypothetical scenario. An event happens in one of your friend's life, that puts a financial strain on them (divorce, disease, death in the family, etc). They are in need of money to deal with this situation. Now-a-days, it seems like tons of people set up GoFundMe to get friends to contribute to help them out of their dire straits. However, you know that this friend has a rather sizable collection, with a few $500+ games in it, that could easily be sold for cash to help them deal with their situation.

Would you expect them to sell their collection before they started a beg-a-thon style page? Or would you think its OK to keep the games, while asking others to contribute?

So, hypothetical scenario. An event happens in one of your friend's life, that puts a financial strain on them (divorce, disease, death in the family, etc). They are in need of money to deal with this situation. Now-a-days, it seems like tons of people set up GoFundMe to get friends to contribute to help them out of their dire straits. However, you know that this friend has a rather sizable collection, with a few $500+ games in it, that could easily be sold for cash to help them deal with their situation.

Would you expect them to sell their collection before they started a beg-a-thon style page? Or would you think its OK to keep the games, while asking others to contribute?

I would expect them to do what works for them. Each persons/families financial situation is the concern of themselves and no one elses. Sorry, as someone who recently did a gofundme for my wife's battle with cancer, this hits a nerve.

Depends on how dire the situation really is. I can see an argument going both ways, though. If you really need the money... you could get the money. Although, if you don't have to sell and people are willing to help, then why not?

But I mean if your kid is dying or something and you're refusing to sell your games even when you know it could help? Fuck you. Your possessions aren't more important than that.

You might say this, until you are in a position like Archon's. I don't think the answer is as clear cut as people outside the situation think it is.

For me, that would be a situation where it's going to be a drawn out thing. Getting the money right now from your possessions doesn't ensure a positive end and if you would like to ask for help that's one thing. It's unfortunate that I posted right after he did because people could misconstrue my meaning to make it about his situation.

You might say this, until you are in a position like Archon's. I don't think the answer is as clear cut as people outside the situation think it is.

For me, that would be a situation where it's going to be a drawn out thing. Getting the money right now from your possessions doesn't ensure a positive end and if you would like to ask for help that's one thing. It's unfortunate that I posted right after he did because people could misconstrue my meaning to make it about his situation.

The worst part about doing a GoFundMe (and you can pass this on to you friend as something to think about) is that a lot of people will view it like a kickstarter. Now that they have "bought into" your life, they feel like they have a say. You will get critically viewed for spending money on ANYTHING not related to the problem, regardless of where the money you are spending came from or what it is. You'd be shocked how many people had something to say when I took my wife to Disneyland while she was doing chemo. People don't understand the need to feel normal when you are going through something completely abnormal. And it fucking sucks.

I made very sure that this was really the only place I would talk about collecting while heather was in treatment. Even though not one dollar was being spent on my collection that didn't come from me selling a collectible I already owned.

If it's just a bill like divorce or a funeral then you find a way to pay it. If it's a life changing condition like cancer, paralysis, etc. then I'll donate you some money whether you have the gofundme or not.

You might say this, until you are in a position like Archon's. I don't think the answer is as clear cut as people outside the situation think it is.

Pretty sure it is.

*ahem*

I WOULD SELL EVERY GAME I OWNED BEFORE I ASKED FOR MONEY(and non essential items)

I am not in anyone elses situation. My personal, is that I have a pretty sizeable amount of money saved, and have made smart investments early on in my life. So if something did happen, I have contingencies.

I dont pretend to know what other peoples situations or feelings are. Anybody that wants to set up a go fund me or support it by all means do so.

Like all things, I feel it depends on the circumstances. I personally would feel guilty taking someone else's money under any circumstance and would do everything possible in my own power to come up with the money myself. However there are those dire life changing circumstances that are beyond our control and if you obviously have family and friends who want to help then I don't see anything wrong with setting up a controlled way for people who really want to help to help.